Pathway Programs

A view of Bowen with flowers in bloom.

Pathway programs provide highly qualified and motivated students from select institutions and programs with exclusive opportunities to attend the UA Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law.

To be eligible, students must complete undergraduate studies from a partnering college or university and meet the requirements listed below. Eligble students must submit their application through the Law School Admissions Council. Students who do not qualify for admittance through the Pathway Program are encouraged to apply to the law school through the standard admissions process.

4+3 Programs

The William H. Bowen School of Law has partnered with a number of Arkansas colleges and universities to create 4+3 programs which provide guaranteed acceptance into the law school to highly qualified and motivated students of exceptional academic and intellectual ability. To qualify for the program, students must have completed undergraduate studies and earned a bachelor’s degree from a partnering college or university and meet the program requirements listed below.

Program Requirements

  • Earned a bachelor’s degree from a partnering college or university
  • Earned a cumulative UGPA of 3.40 or above
  • Earned an LSAT score of 154 or above within the previous five years of matriculating to the law school
  • Have no character and fitness issues that would disqualify you from being admitted to the bar

Partnering Colleges and Universities

  • Arkansas State University
  • Arkansas Tech University
  • Central Baptist College
  • Hendrix College
  • John Brown University
  • Lyon College
  • Philander Smith University
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock
  • University of Arkansas at Monticello
  • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

2+2+3 Program with Pulaski Technical College and UA Little Rock

Pulaski Technical College and the William H. Bowen School of Law have partnered to create a 2+2+3 Program which provides guaranteed acceptance into the law school to highly qualified and motivated  students of exceptional academic and intellectual ability. To qualify for the program, students must meet the program requirements listed below.

Program Requirements

  • Earned an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Technology from Pulaski Technical College with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Earned a Bachelor of Applied Science, or any other Bachelor’s degree from UA Little Rock
  • Earned a cumulative UGPA of 3.40 or above
  • Earned an LSAT score of 154 or above within the previous five years of matriculating to the law school
  • Have no character and fitness issues that would disqualify you from being admitted to the bar

3+3 Early Admittance Program with UA Little Rock Department of Philosophy

The UA Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law and the UA Little Rock Department of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies have partnered together to create a 3+3 Early Admittance Program which enables talented and motivated students to earn a BA degree in philosophy and a J.D. in twelve semesters.

The 3+3 program admits intellectually engaged and academically mature undergraduates into the Bowen School of Law after their third year of undergraduate study (or 94 credit hours).  Upon completion of the program requirements listed below, students are allowed to apply for admission to the Bowen School of Law.

Students who participate in the program earn their B.A. degree upon successful completion of the first year at Bowen. The J.D. is awarded after two more years of law school.  The first year of law school thus counts as the final year of undergraduate studies; students save themselves 30 credit-hours of undergraduate coursework and are able to graduate law school earlier than they would otherwise.

Program Requirements

  • Complete a major in philosophy from UALR
  • Maintain a UGPA of 3.5 or higher
  • Score in the 75th percentile or higher on the LSAT
  • Complete the UALR Core Curriculum and satisfy the language requirement

Additional information about the degree requirements for the 3+3 program can be found at the UALR Department of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Study’s website.